Holmen Schools to pay the cost of reduced-price meals for eligible students
HOLMEN (WKBT) — At the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, the government started funding free breakfast and lunch for public school students, expanding…
Dog, missing 2 months, found alive inside Missouri cave
Jeff Bohnert had all but given up on seeing his poodle-hound mix again after she went missing in early June. Two months later, he got a text from a neighbor: People exploring a nearby cave found a dog. Could it be Abby? Curious, Bohnert went to the cave site not far from his rural Missouri home, expecting to confirm it wasn’t Abby. Then he saw the picture one of the rescuers took. He said, “That's my dog.” Bohnert and rescuers believe the nearly 14-year-old dog lived mostly off of her own body fat while spending nearly 60 days inside the cave before her rescue on Aug. 6. She is now regaining weight and is wagging her tail again.
Western states hit with more cuts to Colorado River water
For the second year in a row, Arizona and Nevada will face cuts in the amount of water they can draw from the Colorado River as the West endures more drought. Federal officials made the announcement Tuesday. The cuts planned for next year will force states to make critical decisions about where to reduce consumption and whether to prioritize growing cities or agricultural areas. Mexico will also face cuts. But the seven states that rely on the river could soon face even deeper cuts that the government has said are needed to prevent reservoirs from falling so low they cannot be pumped.
UW System launches free tuition program at regional campuses
The University of Wisconsin System is launching a new tuition waiver at its 12 regional campuses.
"Taste of the Garden" event returns to La Crosse's Kane Street community garden
LA CROSSE (WKBT) -- Hunger Task Force's annual "Taste of the Garden" event is offering the community a chance to go natural. The…
FIRST ALERT FORECAST: Partly Cloudy skies this evening. -Erik Dean
DISCUSSION: Overall it was not a bad start to the week. Highs today were in the upper 70s - low 80s. With the low humidity, it was very comfortable to say the least. Radar definitely got a break today, but for…
"Forward La Crosse" committee wants to improve bike and pedestrian safety
LA CROSSE, Wis. (WKBT)- The City of La Crosse is asking community members about its plan for bike and pedestrian infrastructure. On Tuesday, community members…
City of La Crosse takes ideas for upgrades to Copeland Park
LA CROSSE, Wis. (WKBT)- The City of La Crosse wants to know how you would upgrade Copeland park. The City is working on a plan…
Biden signs massive climate and health care legislation
President Joe Biden has signed Democrats’ landmark climate change and health care bill. It's the “final piece” of the president's pared-down domestic agenda as he aims to boost his party’s standing with voters ahead of midterm elections. Biden says, “The American people won, and the special interests lost.” The legislation includes the biggest federal investment ever to fight climate change — some $375 billion over a decade. It also caps prescription drug costs at $2,000 out-of-pocket annually for Medicare recipients, and helps an estimated 13 million Americans pay for health care insurance by extending subsidies provided during the coronavirus pandemic.
Monkeypox can spread to pet dogs, doctors report
Health officials are warning people who are infected with monkeypox to stay away from household pets, since the animals could be at risk of catching the virus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has had the advice in place as monkeypox spreads in the U.S. It gained new attention after a report from France, published last week in the medical journal Lancet, about an Italian greyhound that caught the virus. Infections have been detected in rodents and other wild animals. But the authors called it the first report of monkeypox infection in a domesticated animal like a dog or cat.
Wisconsin pumps $10M into revamping contaminated private water wells
Gov. Tony Evers and the Wisconsin DNR announced a new $10 million dollar grant program Tuesday aimed at cleaning up contaminated private water wells in the state.
Jill Biden tests positive for COVID-19, has 'mild' symptoms
First lady Jill Biden has tested positive for COVID-19 and is experiencing “mild symptoms.” The White House announced it on Tuesday. The first lady has been vacationing with President Joe Biden in South Carolina and began experiencing symptoms Monday. She has been prescribed the antiviral drug Paxlovid and will isolate at the vacation home for at least five days. Joe Biden tested negative for the virus on Tuesday morning but will wear a mask indoors for 10 days in line with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance. The president recovered from a rebound case of the virus Aug. 7. The Bidens have been twice-vaccinated and twice-boosted with the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine.
5,760 cases of Capri Sun have been recalled after being contaminated with cleaning solution
Approximately 5,760 cases of Capri Sun Wild Cherry beverages have been recalled because of possible contamination.
New home construction cools as more people get priced out of the housing market
Home builders pressed on the brakes once again last month as the cost of building supplies remained high and more prospective buyers were priced out of the market.
Minnesota nurses authorize strike against 7 health systems
Members of the Minnesota Nurses Association voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike against seven health systems in the Twin Cities and Duluth, union officials say. The vote Monday gave nurse negotiators the ability to call a strike, with a 10-day notice to employers. The union represents 15,000 nurses. Union officials said one of the biggest issues is retention with understaffing contributing to overwork and professional burnout. Union officials say 15 hospitals and would be affected by the strike, including those operated by Allina Health, M Health Fairview, Children’s Hospital, North Memorial and HealthPartners. In Duluth, it’s Essentia and St Luke’s. Allina Health said it has plans in place to care for patients during any work stoppage, but wasn’t specific.
Former ITT Tech students get $3.9B in debt cancellation
Students who used federal loans to attend ITT Technical Institute as far back as 2005 will automatically get that debt canceled. This comes after authorities found “widespread and pervasive misrepresentations” at the defunct for-profit college chain. The Biden administration says the action will cancel $3.9 billion in federal student debt for 208,000 borrowers. It adds to the administration’s list of piecemeal student debt cancellations, but it provided no answers on broader student debt cancellation. President Joe Biden supported debt cancellation as a presidential candidate and for months has been considering erasing up to $10,000 per borrower. He promised a decision by the end of August.
